Style Archives - Page 24 of 25

Katie Fashion

Luxury Leather Luggage by blokesbags.co.uk

Hello Lovelies,

I’m sure if you follow me on Twitter you’ll know the dilemma I have been having with buying new travel luggage right? I am looking for the most perfect pair of tan leather holdalls / weekend bags. Finding these bags has been next to impossible and believe me I have trawled luggage shops and brands.

I want something quite masculine as I like classic, clean, simple shapes, styles and lines and as Mr Tramp will have to use these and a lot of the bags I have found have been a bit too girly.. Or in a lot of cases, insanely too expensive. I’m just not a fan of frou frou “girly” designs or overbearingly monogrammed designer luggage covered in labels and brands. I don’t begrudge spending money on good quality luggage that will last me a life time but looking at some of the high price range luggage in stores it just simply hasn’t been up to the quality I expect to reflect the price.

Feeling a bit dejected, I started to Google for mens leather bags in the off chance I found something appealing. And boy am I glad I did!

Blokesbags.co.uk, based in Bath, is a unique website offering a HUGE choice of bags for men. I am in leather luggage heaven here. So much so I found myself emailing the owner of the company to tell him how happy I was to have found his website.

David and his wife started Blokesbags 3.5yr ago to deal exlusively in the niche market of man bags. David himself always carried a bag whilst working as a newspaper editor and realised one day people stopped mocking him and starting asking him where he bought it.

Having built their own website from scratch, the company now stocks almost 500 different styles of manbags from beltbags to holdalls and a myriad in between. David sources each product for their design and practicality with their beautiful holdalls ranging from £34.99 to £700.

I think the stigma of carrying a ‘handbag’ has rapidly dropped with the increasing popularity of laptops and ipads. Men need to carry their stuff around just as much as us ladies so why not buy yourself a spiffy manbag rather than a dull black laptop bag or sports rucksack!

I know I had a lot of Twitter support from people looking for the same kind of luggage that I was, so I hope this is of some use. Mr Tramp is already eyeing up a few stunners to replace his naff laptop bag and old briefcase!

Would you ever consider thinking outside the box and looking at ‘mens bags’ or are you all about the girly?

Katie Fashion

Kitschen Sink Customised Necklaces

Hello Lovelies,

I know I have spoken before of my love of all things cute, kitsch, retro and unusual… well how about a necklace that ticks all the above boxes and still comes in less than £20?

Kitschen Sink is run by the gorgeous power house that is Rowan Grant, based in Shipley Yorkshire.

You have probably already seen Rowans designs and not even noticed it as Russell Kane is a fan of the brand, sporting badges on his tv shows (included Geordie Shore reunion!!)

I think I need to indulge in other “choice” words slung round my neck for my own amusement or maybe my website name? oo the possibilities are endless.

I personally tweeted Rowan after seeing a twitpic she posted of another clients necklace and had to have one. The whole process was silky smooth and done over email, with a picture of my proof and choice of colours right up to the payment process and confirmation it had been sent out.

As if the necklace wasn’t good enough on it’s own.. there was a Refresher chew included too. Not seen in the picture… as i’d already scoffed it! Nom!

Katie Fashion

Elite Model Look : Does the North East have what it takes?

Hello Lovelies,

After my recent blog post encouraging all my absolutely gorgeous readers to enter the Grosvenor Casino search for a model, I bring you all a new challenge and yet more encouragement to enter!

For the 1st time, Elite Model Look UK have partnered with Capital Shopping Centres as their Official Location Partner, LOOK Magazine and LOOK Beauty to tour key cities in the UK and the Elite London team will be hitting the Metrocentre, Gateshead, on Saturday 12th May.

The prestigious model search launched the careers of modelling royalty including Cindy Crawford, Stephanie Seymour, Gisele Bundchen, Constance Jablonski and more recently model of the moment Nyasha Mathondoze.

The competition will be located in Town Square from 10am-5pm searching the centre for fashion’s new face. All entrants are invited to meet the Elite Model London team, get a makeover courtesy of Look Magazine and Look Beauty, then strike a pose for the cameras. Up to ten chosen applicants will get the chance to take part in a mini-catwalk show alongside actual Elite models at 5pm.

Elite Model Look UK scouts will pick 24 UK finalists, 12 girls and 12 boys who will be whisked off for an intensive week-long model bootcamp. Local guys and girls will go from shopping in the Metrocentre straight into catwalk training, hair and make-up tutorials, health and fitness advice and confidence coaching.

A national finale will take place in July, attended by top UK fashion industry experts and celebrity guests where judges will pick one female and one male winner on the night. The female winner will take part in the Elite Model Look World Final. The male winner will be sent on an all-expenses paid trip to Milan to walk in Men’s Fashion Week with some of the world’s most renowned designers.

Additionally, one lucky female finalist will be chosen to be the face of LOOK Beauty, Look magazine’s new make-up range. The winner’s campaign will feature in Superdrug stores nationwide plus advertising. The girl will also receive an Elite Model contract and editorial spread in Look.

If you can’t make it to the North East casting you can still take part. Go to www.elitemodellook.co.uk for more details.

Right, come on ladies who is going to enter? I want to see hands in the air and your sexy behinds gracing that catwalk, whether it is in the north east or at a venue closer to home!

I will hopefully be there, checking out the backstage action and make overs as they happen so I hope to see some of you there!

Will you be entering this competition or know anyone that would like to? Spread the word!

Katie Fashion

Taillissime blazer jacket

Hello Lovelies,

Some eagle eyed folk might have spotted me wearing a gorgeous black blazer style jacket in a few of my What Katie Did posts.. well… I’m about to tell you what I’ve been wearing!

The jacket in question is from One Stop Plus and is the Taillissime long sleeved jacket with tailored collar – aka blazer (to me anyway). The jacket was £49 and it is made really well. For some reason, when I chose it, I didn’t look at the fabric listing. I was expecting it to be a nylon-y suit material but when it arrived I was very pleased to see it was almost a very thick t-shirt / hoody fabric.

Once on, the jacket is so soft and comfortable to wear it’s unreal. It’s like wearing a posh slouchy hoody yet still looking kick ass and on trend! I do a lot of driving and I am constantly travelling about so it’s been a god send to throw on during journeys to look polished without getting creased but at the same time looks equally as funky with jeans and a top.

With the weather being so hit and miss lately I’ve been wearing the jacket for work and keeping it on through out the day. It’s that touch warmer than a cardie but not as hot or cumbersome as a coat. Best of both worlds right?!

One thing I really strongly recommend is to check the sizing before you buy this jacket, should I convince you too (go on… buy it!). I personally feel it runs a little small on the sizing but thanks to the fabric you are given that little bit of stretch. The good thing about the One Stop Plus website is that is shows the measurements per size so to avoid confusion you can first. I ordered the jacket at the very beginning of my weight loss journey and even though I have now dropped several dress sizes, this jacket doesn’t show that so I’d imagine if possible you might need to size up if you can (it only goes up to a 26 i’m afraid).

DON’T ask about the horn gesture… long embarassing story will ensue!

I personally like to wear this to smarten up my more ‘alternative’ outfits with a turn up in the sleeves, such as a rock t shirt, skinny jeans and some Chucky T’s. This just adds a smattering of smart casual style. It makes me feel refined and pulled together more than a cardie or leather jacket would.

I am attending a few events this weekend which are casual so no doubt you’ll see this blazer crop up on them unless the weather drastically improves!

How would you wear a blazer? Casual or smart?

* This blazer was kindly gifted to me for review purposes but it has not influenced my opinion at all.

Katie Fashion

Gok Wan inspired shoe find with Kurt Geiger

Hello Lovelies,

I love the pattern used by Gok Wan for his latest TU at Sainsburys line. It’s so unusual and oddly reminds me of Monet.

While browsing the Kurt Geiger website I spotted a pair of shoes that instantly reminded me of the same pattern.

If you are feeling a bit less than brave with the print on the dresses and prefer the blacks, why not jazz up your feet with an inspired printed pair of shoes?

It’s something I would definitely do to add a colour pop to a plain outfit.

You can buy the Gok Wan range in store in Sainsburys and the Arbour shoe by Kurt Geiger are available in the sale! BARGAIN ALERT!

Would you wear bright print shoes with a plain outfit or do you like to colour clash?